Lantern Slide Projector

Object/Artifact

-

Museum Of American Heritage

Name/Title

Lantern Slide Projector

Entry/Object ID

1000.2171.134

Description

Projector, lantern slide

Collection

Jim Adams

Made/Created

Manufacturer

J.L Nerlien A/S

Notes

possible date made: c. late 1800s where made: Bergen & Tronhjem, Norway model name: Christiania (?)

Material

Bronze

Color

Black

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

curated description

Label

The Magic Lantern Magic lanterns operate by using a concave mirror behind the light source to direct light through glass slides. Slides were originally hand-painted on glass and initially featured silhouette figures. As translucent paint became available, slides could instead feature color images. Magic lanterns as we conceive of them today existed as early as 1659. In the 1700s magic lanterns were used by traveling entertainers to set up “Phantasmagoria” to scare and entertain viewers. Images from a hidden magic lantern would be projected onto smoke to make them move and appear more ethereal.

General Notes

Note

Large rear door for inserting flame source. Knurled focused adjuster. Artifact label reads: Slide Projector J.L. Nerlien, Norway Circa 1900 This early Magic Lantern used a flame (alcohol or kerosene lamp) to project glass slide images on the wall or screen. Projectors like this were important tools for education and industry. A large percentage of the preserved historic glass slides are of technical and medical images.